After Friday's disappointing loss to Cal State LA to open up California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) play, the Chico State volleyball team was determined to avoid a second straight conference match on its home floor. Mission accomplished: the Wildcats came out with gusto Saturday against a very good Cal State Dominguez Hills squad and topped the Toros in four sets, 25-19, 25-17, 21-25, 25-20 at Acker Gym.
Alex Boyle set career highs with
10 kills and seven blocks against
Cal State Dominguez Hills.
Saturday's win moves Chico State to 7-5 on the season and evens the 'Cats' CCAA record at 1-1. Cal State Dominguez Hills dipped to 5-5 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
Makaela Keeve led a balanced Wildcats offense with a career-high 13 kills while adding four blocks on the night. Bekah Boyle contributed 12 kills and four blocks, while Alex Boyle set career highs with 10 kills and seven blocks, with Mckenna LaForge ripping a career-high nine kills for the 'Cats. McKenna Carroll dished out 25 assists and handled a dozen digs; Tristen Thompson led all players with 23 digs on the evening.
The Wildcats led from start to finish in the opening set, roaring out to a 7-0 lead on the strength of a Thompson service ace and three kills by Keeve. Dominguez Hills hung around, but could never produce a run that would lift the Toros back in the contest. Dominguez got as close as five points, but late kills by Keeve and LaForge powered Chico State to the 25-19 win.
The 'Cats spotted the Toros the first point of set number two, then went on a 10-2 run—fueled by three kills and an ace by LaForge—to establish a comfortable lead. The Toros were once again forced to play catch-up, and were able to whittle the deficit to 17-14. Chico State answered by scoring eight of the last 11 points—aces by Keeve and Brooke Fogel bookended kills by both Bekah and Alex Boyle—and the Wildcats rolled to the 25-17 victory.
Chico State pulled out to an early lead in the third set, but this time Dominguez Hills made good on its comeback attempt. Down 12-9, the Toros went on a 13-5 run to jump on top 22-17, and though the 'Cats crept to within one on a pair of Alex Boyle kills and an Alex Boyle/Claire Wilson block, Dominguez strung together the set's final three points to win 25-21.
Set number four was the night's most intense, featuring five tie scores and four lead changes. With the score knotted up at 13-apiece, the Wildcats went ahead to stay courtesy of a 9-3 run—Bekah Boyle blasted three kills, Alex Boyle had two kills and combined with Wilson on a huge block, and Carroll rifled an ace—to put Chico State up 22-17. Dominguez Hills could not recover, and an Alex Boyle/Bekah Boyle combo block put the finishing touches on the 25-20 win, giving the 'Cats the match victory.
Chico State will play its next four contests on the road, with the first two this coming weekend in Southern California. Friday the Wildcats take on Cal State San Marcos, then travel to La Jolla Saturday to battle UC San Diego. Both matches will get underway at 7 p.m.
